ADVANCED manufacturing is leading Britain’s fourth industrial revolution – and nowhere is this more evident than here in Greater Manchester.

While definitions of precisely what advanced manufacturing encompasses vary, a widely accepted description is: “Manufacturing for the 21st century that entails rapid transfer of science and technology into products and processes.”

What’s more, the process of manufacturing these materials also addresses the full product lifecycle from development through to manufacture, usage and disposal.

Such is the perceived potential of advanced manufacturing, that Manchester’s inward investment agency MIDAS has noted that the scale of the market opportunity for it across this city is limitless.

Perhaps the most exciting development of recent times has been graphene – the world’s thinnest, strongest, most conductive material, isolated at the University of Manchester in 2004.

Steve Warren, north west regional director for manufacturers’ organisation EEF, is in no doubt about the importance of both advanced materials and high value manufacturing to Britain’s ongoing success.

“Advanced manufacturing and high value manufacturing are very much about the future of our sector,” explained Steve.

“Both are a world apart from most people’s perceptions of manufacturing – they are incredibly innovative, driven by technology and the work is highly skilled.

“Both are vitally important to the north west – not just because of the well-paid, highly skilled jobs they provide, but because they are also early adopters of new technologies and processes. This is important because the UK is on the cusp of a global, technology-driven fourth industrial revolution and these manufacturers are helping to pave the way.”

Steve added that this next industrial phase – which is known as “Industry 4.0” – is expected to become a business reality by 2025.

In the global battle for dominance, the expectation is that innovative

firms will be able to take the lead and help position Britain as the manufacturing and technology hub of Europe.

He continued: “This will bring clear benefits to our region, the sector and the wider UK economy.

“The rapid advance in technology will play to Britain’s strength as a high value manufacturer, with manufacturers able to produce more bespoke products and deliver more rapid and cheaper prototyping.

“It will increase the importance and value of manufacturing within the UK, enable more production to be reshored - or brought back to the UK - and lead to increased demand for highly skilled workers.

“But it’s not going to be easy for manufacturers to adjust to Industry 4.0.

“For many, it will require a step change and knowing that we already have such strong frontrunners here in our region will undoubtedly provide encouragement, inspiration and reassurance.”

The consensus is that Greater Manchester excels when it comes to developing, making and using such advanced materials as: graphene and 2D materials; light alloys; surfaces and coatings; composites; and technical textiles.

These materials are used extensively in a variety of major industries, including aerospace and automotive, nuclear, oil and gas, health and electronics.

Rob Elvin, pictured right, Manchester office managing partner of international law firm Squire Patton Boggs, said that one of the reasons for the north west’s ongoing success in this sector is because of the collaboration between universities and industry.

But he adds that issues surrounding skills shortages cannot be overlooked.

Rob explained: “Despite fears around the global economy and Brexit, the manufacturing sector in the north west is proving resilient.

“The growth of the £800 million Airport City Manchester development is evidence of the success of manufacturing in the region, with the development, next to Manchester Airport, aiming to create world-class advanced manufacturing and logistics premises.

“The recent government announcement that the UK’s first Science Innovation Audit site will be in Sheffield City Region and Lancashire is a boost to the sector as it will help build on existing investments and successes to drive the UK’s productivity from the north, and help to address one of the key concerns of the sector – skills shortages.

“While we are fortunate to have world-class universities and colleges in our region that are working with manufacturers to help bridge the skills gap, the Science Innovation Audit will also analyse the skills needed for companies to make the most of the advanced manufacturing revolution, which has created the need to upskill the workforce quickly.

“With this level of insight, skills shortages should be tackled more fundamentally and give the sector the stronger foundations it needs for future growth.”

Chris Sheryn, director in KPMG’s management consulting practice, said that there was also a challenge when it comes to productivity in this country, which has not recovered to pre-financial crisis levels and leaves us lagging behind our European counterparts.

“This issue is even more acute in the north,” he continued.

“A pertinent question for policy makers and businesses is how do we close the capacity gap, address inefficiencies and make headroom to invest in skills to attract the right talent and experience into the region.

“We must ask ourselves whether the north has the capability to deliver on the transformation agenda and create a robust strategy that can make those Northern Powerhouse ambitions a reality.

“If the industry is to capitalise on the opportunities we’ll see over the next decade, many businesses will need to fundamentally rethink and redesign their underlying operating models to address these issues head on.”

James Sidlow, assistant director at Deloitte Real Estate in Manchester, added that the inexorable rise of the advanced manufacturing sector is also hastening investment in the city region’s regeneration.

He explained: “In the global property market, cities can fast track inward investment and development prospects by claiming leadership in a particular field, which has sparked a race to the top of the so-called “emerging” modern sectors.

“When emerging industries hold the key to unlocking global investment, the development of local advanced materials research and development (R&D) has become almost as precious a commodity as the graphene that lies at its core.

“Manchester was first past in the post in isolating the material, but has faced competition in the R&D aspect from evolving markets in Asia and the US.

“The development of Manchester’s universities, as well as the specialist centres at the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), enable the city to capture interest and engage with the growing worldwide network of talent from a local base.”

“Developing new facilities is instrumental to the development of the advanced materials sector and wider “Northern Powerhouse” initiative.

“We’re currently engaged on the Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD), a development which will accommodate four large engineering schools; plus Foundation Studies; two research institutes – the Dalton Nuclear Institute, and the International Centre for Advanced Materials (ICAM))..

“Through quality planning and design, the development will create a centre for excellence away from London that will act as a powerful magnet for investment.”